Per our previous Noosa 360 update this month, Seqwater have released the final design concept for the upgrade of the Lake Macdonald Dam, with early works set to commence in March ahead of major construction mid-2024.

Following enquiries from our office on behalf of residents, Seqwater has updated their website (in the FAQs) to include the below information regarding the environmental considerations of the project:

In line with the Water License for Six Mile Creek, Seqwater manages continuous environmental releases from Lake Macdonald to maintain a healthy water supply to help protect the habitat downstream.

Environmental releases, which will continue during the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project, occur daily and are adjusted based on a range of factors including rainfall, inflows, losses and releases to ensure we meet our release obligation.

Seqwater has ongoing long-term source water protection partnership programs with both the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) and the Noosa & District Landcare Group (NDLG). As part of these partnerships, Seqwater works with MRCCC and NDLG to improve water quality and broader catchment health.

Seqwater will continue taking steps to improve overall catchment resilience in the region for water supply and quality benefit, including during periods of low rainfall. 

Within the Project Scope information available on Seqwater’s project website, they also note that this project will include relocation of fish from Lake Macdonald by expert fish biologists, via a purpose-built fish transport vehicle, to Cooloolabin Dam. Additionally, information can be found in the FAQs on how the impacts to the natural flora and fauna will be mitigated and more in relation to fish relocation and platypuses.

Information on how Lake Macdonald fits into our water supply is available at www.sandybolton.com/lake-macdonald-dam-november-2023

Further information

For any other enquiries regarding this, please contact Seqwater on 3432 7000 or via projectinfo@seqwater.com.au or attend one of their drop-in information sessions with dates to be announced soon.

Direct advocacy regarding other matters related to the Seqwater can be directed to the Queensland Minster for Water via regionaldevelopment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on this, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=lake+macdonald.